New men's lacrosse team needs players

Friday

If the answer is yes, and your sport is lacrosse, the South Coast Silver Sachems just gave you a reason to get the stick out of the closet, dust off the helmet and go play.

A first-year entry in the Olde New England Lacrosse League (ONELL), the Silver Sachems' Over-40 team is in need of a few experienced players to round out its roster. And if you think you might be that guy, you're probably just the guy they're looking for.

"We're looking for guys with high school or college playing experience," explains club founder Larry Simpson, a Lakeville resident and coaching director for Laker Youth Lacrosse, "guys who are in they're 30's and 40's and still in good shape. We're looking for those guys who are out watching, or coaching, their kids play two or three times a week and figure 'heck, yeah, I can still play.'"

That's it.

The team's nickname, the Silver Sachems, is a play on what Simpson and company are looking for, and it is representative of just what ONELL, which includes among its ranks the Rusty Bones, the Remnants, Faded Glory and Stale Doughnuts, is all about.

"The name is fitting, silver being the color of some of our players' hair and a sachem being an Indian chief," says Simpson. "Most of our guys coach their kids or coach for local youth teams, but just want to get out on the field once a week and play for themselves.

"I mean, are your skills diminished some at this age? Sure. Are you a half-step slower? Yeah. But you'd be surprised at the level of play; it's not Division 1 college lacrosse, but it's a pretty high level."

ONELL has two divisions, Over-30 and Over-40. And, with the exception of a few minor rule alterations, it's the same game.

In the end, age isn't an issue.

"Before the games, you're meeting a lot of the guys for the first time and you really don't get a sense of what they look like or how old they are. But after the game you shake hands and see these guys with their helmets off and they have white hair, or no hair at all, and they're out there running around like crazy, with plenty of energy. It pushes you get better, to get in better shape."

Simpson envisioned a two-team club from the start, but so far interest in the Over-30 team has been limited to just a handful of players. He's got until the end of the month to turn in an official team roster, so the opportunity to play is there for the local 30-something crowd. If not this year, Simpson expects entering two full teams moving forward.

So far, the Silver Sachems have about 18 players for the Over-40 side. Simpson says 25 -30 players would be ideal. "Anything less than that is more than a 40-year old can handle," he said.

And what's needed in particular are some good mid-fielders and attackers.

"At this age, everybody's a defender, because you basically only have to play half the field. Right now, I have more defenders than I can shake a stick at."

Bart Coakley, Director of Bridgewater Youth Lacrosse, is Simpson's main partner in the venture, and fellow Lakeville residents and LYL coaches Chris Baril and Greg Murphy are also on the team. The remaining cast of characters hails from area towns from Easton to Dartmouth.

Simpson is no stranger to post-collegiate men's lacrosse. After playing for Division 3 Bethany College in West Virginia, he played for over a decade with the Pittsburgh Lacrosse Club, a regional club that competed throughout the Midwest. He got his first taste of ONELL last year with the South Shore Stragglers, based out of Scituate. It was fun from the start but it was a bit of a ride, and his thoughts quickly turned to assembling a team closer to home.

"Even a home game was an hour and a half ride, never mind an away game, which were all north of Boston or in New Hampshire. So, it was a lot of time to dedicate to one game. So, one day my wife said 'stop complaining about the ride and start a team around here.'"

The season starts in mid-June and runs through August. The Over-40 division plays Tuesday nights and the Over-30 Division plays on Thursday nights.

The Silver Sachems have secured a home field at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, on turf and under the lights.

"They're family-friendly games, and we encourage players to bring their families down to the games," Simpson said. "On the weekend, we go watch the kids play. On Tuesday night, they go watch dad play. It's not like we play a game and then go drink beer in the parking lot."

The South Coast Silver Sachems are one of three newbie squads to join ONELL this year, and still one of only a handful south of Boston. Simpson hopes a "Southern Division" — consisting of teams located around Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island — will emerge in the seasons ahead. And ONELL would seem to have the kind of momentum needed to realize such an ambitious vision of expansion. Since being established in 2004, the league has grown to 19 teams, and a women's league in the works.

Those interested in playing for the South Coast Silver Sachems this year are asked to contact Larry Simpson via email at silversachemlacrosse@comcast.net or call 508-946-4750.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.